Post due November 6 by class time!

Meghan:
This is an ASCD article about Effective Teachers. It talk about teacher organization, but also describes other characteristics that make an effective teacher.
http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/104136/chapters/The-Power-of-an-Effective-Teacher-and-Why-We-Should-Assess-It.aspx

Raeanne:
This is a link to a PDF which talks about what Backwards Design is and how it looks/works in the classroom.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=7&sqi=2&ved=0CFkQFjAG&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wku.edu%2Flibrary%2Fdlps%2Finfolit%2Fdocuments%2Fdesigning_lesson_plans_using_backward_design.pdf&ei=dAGXUJ2CG6SryQH9kIGYDw&usg=AFQjCNGEixlEgCcxsDxpY7BfCkJoWz1ONQ&sig2=OnIQ34eAZ4Gq07r6X6i4Eg

Kristen
What makes a teacher effective? Research says, teacher preparation!
http://www.ncate.org/Public/ResearchReports/TeacherPreparationResearch/WhatMakesaTeacherEffective/tabid/361/Default.aspx


Kim:

"....the impact of teaming on a school’s outcomes is magnified when the school implements teaming with high levels of common planning time. The most salient evidence to support this is that schools with high levels of common planning time realized the most significant gains in student achievement scores."

This is a study on the outcomes that teaming has effected. The researches discuss how planning is a crucial part of teaching, especially in a team setting. Teachers are able to better support and understand the high extent of needs pertaining to each student. Teaming also promotes an improved work climate, increased parental contact, job satisfaction and higher student achievement. Their data supports these findings...a great article! I really enjoyed it.